private lessons
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, Cadenza’s experienced teachers can bring your playing to the next level. Offering individual lessons in 20+ instruments, as well as voice and songwriting, we’re here to help you on your musical journey.
Brass & Woodwinds
Ariel Detwiler – bassoon, Ariel is a freelancer and reed maker who holds three degrees in Bassoon Performance: a Doctorate from the University of Minnesota under Norbert Nielubowski, a Masters from Indiana University under William Ludwig, and a Bachelors from DePaul University under Kara Stolle. Ariel teaches at Dordt University in Iowa and Augsburg University, and her students regularly receive scholarships and perform with youth symphonies and honors ensembles in the area. Ariel’s teaching philosophy is to make the bassoon easier for every student through knowledge building, efficient practice, and great reeds.
Bryanne Kleinert – oboe, Bachelors and Masters degree in oboe performance at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Over 15 years of experience playing the oboe. Studied under Minnesota Orchestra Principal Oboist, John Snow. Bryanne has been teaching oboe, English horn and reed making for over ten years. Her students at Cadenza have participated in the Minnesota All-State ensembles, multiple honor bands, summer youth orchestra programs, along with being in the top ensembles at their school. Each of Bryanne’s lessons are customized to the student's needs while challenging their abilities and goals.
Dorothy Sauser-Monnig – flute, graduate of Macalester College, MFA in flute from University of Minnesota. Dorothy has performed with a variety of ensembles including the Minneapolis Civic Orchestra, Westminster Winds, and various jazz groups as well as solo recitals.
Gordon Meyers - trumpet, While receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory & Composition from the University of Minnesota, Gordy studied trumpet primarily with David Baldwin but also with members of the Minnesota Orchestra, including Manny Laureano and, more recently, Charles Lazarus. Gordy has given private trumpet lessons to students of all levels since 2014, is a member of the Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, and participated in the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra’s annual concerto competition in 2019. Lessons in songwriting and any aspects of music theory are also available.
Jeff King – sax and clarinet, studied at the University of Minnesota with Ruben Haugen, and at Cadenza Music with Pat Moriarty. Toured South America with the Lakewood Big Band, and performed with Clark Terry, Bill Wattrous, Bud Shank and others. Jeff is a first call sax player in the Twin Cities.
Kaia Sand – oboe, B.A. in music (Luther College), M.M. in oboe performance (University of Oklahoma), studied with Heather Armstrong (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony) and Dan Schwartz (Oklahoma City Philharmonic). Kaia is a new member of the Dolce Wind Quintet and the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and she has subbed with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the Norman Philharmonic. She has taught oboe and reed making lessons to students of all ages through private lessons and summer camps.
Karen Hansen – clarinet specialist, In addition to positions with Dolce Wind Quintet and Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Karen is principal clarinetist with Bloomington Symphony Orchestra and Mississippi Valley Orchestra. She is a Thursday Musical performing artist and does freelance work for Classical MPR, The Schubert Club, Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble, and others. During vacations she is a music lecturer on cruise ships.
Noah Ophoven-Baldwin is an American composer, trumpet player and cornetist. He received his BM in Trumpet Performance at the University of Minnesota, studying under Dr. David Baldwin. Noah has been described as an “an innovative stylist who defies expectations without leaving listeners behind” (Star Tribune). In the Twin Cities he is an active performer playing experimental, improvised, classical and other music. He has performed throughout the Twin Cities at the Walker Art Center, The Museum of American Art, the Cedar, the music series at Khyber Pass and with musicians such as George Cartwright, Erik Fratzke, Michelle Kinney, Wayne Horvitz, Davu Seru and many others.
Scott Anderson – brass, studied at Bemidji State and University of Minnesota. He has been a member of Dr. David Baldwin's Summit Hill Brass for 25 years. Scott has been teaching privately for over ten years.
Bowed Strings
Almut Engelhardt – (Virtual Only) violin, native of Germany, Almut earned her degree in Music Performance from the Staatliche Hochschule für Music in Cologne, Germany. She has performed locally with the Minnesota Opera, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra, and has backed up artists such as Prince, Josh Groban, Amy Grant, the Dixie Chicks, Ray Charles, Mannheim Steamroller, Luciano Pavarotti, and more.
Dave Carbonara – cello and bass. Before moving to the Twin Cities, Dave was a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic bass section in New Orleans for 17 years. Received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in double bass from the Juilliard School. He is trained in Suzuki Method for cello.
Laurel Browne – violin and viola, graduate of the University of Minnesota. She has studied Suzuki method and uses a mix of Suzuki and classical teaching methods. Performs with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra. When she’s not playing, you might find Laurel playing her dulcimer, working a crossword, or riding her bike—just not all at the same time.
Laurie McFaul – violin, graduate of the University of Minnesota. She has studied Suzuki method and is certified in the Mark O'Connor Method. Laurie provides private violin lessons to students from age 6 to adult, using praise and positive encouragement to provide a unique learning experience.
Wendy Lai – violin, graduate of Samuel Fischer’s violin studio at the University of Redlands. Wendy has participated in masterclasses with Rachel Barton Pine, the Brooklyn Rider, and is currently studying with Sally O’Reilly. She has also performed at the Montecito International Music Festival, the Brevard Music Center, and was a substitute member of the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys collaborating with friends and exploring new music and chamber music. In addition to teaching privately and performing, Wendy works at GTCYS as a rehearsal assistant. Wendy teaches private students starting at age five.
Guitar | Bass | Ukulele
Carrie Schneider - (Virtual Only) guitar, ukulele, bass and songwriting. Carrie is a recording, performing, and teaching artist currently orbiting Nashville, TN. She began teaching in St. Cloud, Minnesota in 2014 and joined the faculty at Wirth Center for the Performing arts up until her move to Nashville in 2018. She has been a part of organizations such as Girls Write Nashville and You Be You Music Room, bringing after school music classes and mentorship programs to young musicians. When she’s not teaching music, you can find her out in her garden, hiking, playing with her dogs, or on a stage rocking out in Music City!
Chris Brantley – guitar, ukulele & mandolin. Chris is a talented teacher and performer, highly-regarded by students and families. He has developed guitar-teaching curriculum and is skilled at adapting his teaching to the needs of the student. Chris works with students of all ages.
Chris Micek – guitar and ukulele. Chris studied classical guitar and music theory at the University of Minnesota. Chris has been teaching guitar since 1994 and has performed around town in groups ranging from Rock, Jazz, Blues, Ska, and theater. He teaches students (6+ years old) from beginners through advanced. Students will learn to read standard music notation, tablature, chords, strumming, fingerpicking, and more! Chris also has curriculum for students interested in advanced Blues & Jazz/Music Theory.
David Feily – guitar, graduate of University of Saint Thomas. David has been teaching for five years. He performs as a regular member of Viva Brazil, a Brazilian variety band, as well as the Kevin Washington Group and the Dan Kusz Band. David works with beginning to advanced students.
Erik Fratzke – electric bass and guitar. Erik studied at St. Mary's College with Dr. John Paulson, as well as a summer session at Berklee College of Music. He was selected Best Bassist of the year by the MN Music Academy in '93, '95 and '98. He currently can be heard with Happy Apple. Erik works with beginning to advanced students and loves fostering creativity through teaching theory and improvisation.
Greta Waldon – (Virtual Only) songwriting, guitar, ukulele. Greta is a singer/songwriter passionate about helping others explore their own voices and musical self-expression. She has a BFA in music from California Institute of the Arts. Under the name Greta Ruth, she has performed in New York, Los Angeles, and across the midwest, and has been featured on the cover of Tidal Rising Folk playlist.
Joel Shapira – guitar, is a nationally acclaimed musician residing in St. Paul / Minneapolis MN. He's a leader and/or member of multiple top Twin Cities' jazz ensembles, as well as a master of the demanding discipline of solo guitar. He performs regularly with world class musicians, has numerous recordings to his credit, and is an artist featured on the NYC record label Unseen Rain Records.
Juliet Wilhemi - guitar, bass, ukulele, songwriting. Making music professionally from a young age, Juliet's past recognitions include the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Grand Prize Winner, jazz category, 2008) and an artist appearance at the 2009 NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA. She graduated from Macalester College in 2014 and now plays music around Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa with her jazz and funk band, Juliet and the Montagues. She collaborates with world class musicians as an active singer-songwriter and recording artist. Juliet loves showing students the building blocks of music that they love and making music theory concepts fun and digestible for students of any age.
Michael Zimmerman – guitar, ukulele. Michael performs professionally in the Twin Cities area with the Kurt Jorgenson Band. Michael studied music at Waldorf College and audio recording at Brown College. He teaches many styles of guitar playing, for beginning to advanced students.
Paul Hintz - guitar, ukulele, mandolin. Over 25 years as a guitar teacher, all ages (7 to 70+), backgrounds, styles, interests. He has performed primarily as a soloist, and in duos or trios with multi-instrumentalist/singer Carole Selin. He’s learned stuff from lots of people in lots of ways but his formal education was at Carroll College (Waukesha, WI; B.A. in English), Hamline University (M.A. in Liberal Studies), and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (full-time in the Jazz Performance program for 3 years, dual major in guitar and piano).
Paul Storms – guitar, banjo. Graduate of University of Minnesota, studied with Jeffery Van. Performed in master classes with Sharon Isbin, Christopher Parkening, and Larry Coryell. He also performed with Larry Coryell at the Ordway. Finalist in Schubert Club Competition (bested by Sharon Isbin.) He's performed live on KDWB, WCCO (TV) and KTCA.
Tim Lyles – guitar, electric bass, ukulele. Tim studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and Memphis State University and has been teaching since the early 1980s. He holds a Masters degree in Guitar Performance and taught at McNally Smith College of Music for 14 years. He welcomes students of all ability levels and likes to mix learning solid musical principles with fun music reflecting the student’s interest.
Piano
Jack Barrett – graduate of Saint John’s University. Jack is a working composer and musician in the Twin Cities. After graduating with a degree in classical piano studies, Jack shifted his attention to the worlds of jazz and improvisation, and offers teaching in jazz, classical and pop styles.
Paul Hintz - over 25 years as a music teacher, 10 years teaching piano to all ages (7 to 70+). Each lesson starts with questions: What’s new? What did you practice? The student plays what was practiced. Paul points out what the student does well (because every student always does something well in every lesson). Making music is an empowering experience. Learning how to make music means learning how to practice. Learning how to practice means learning how to learn—a useful skill that can also be lots of fun.
Solveig Mebust – piano. Graduate of Augsburg University, Bachelor of Music Education, and University of Minnesota, Masters (and nearly a PhD) in Historical Musicology. Music teacher in the Twin Cities since 2009, focused on helping students develop healthy posture and finger strength, confidence in playing independently, and strong musicianship skills. A pedagogy and child development nerd. When not teaching music, Solveig owns and runs the Grand Jeté dance apparel and shoe store in Saint Paul. She believes that dance and music performance are deeply linked, and that true musicianship connects to movement as much as to the ear and mind.
Steven Zubich – graduate of University of Minnesota-Duluth and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Steven frequently performs as both a solo and collaborative pianist, and is known as a creative and engaging teacher.
Wes Ruelle – graduate of William Paterson University, known as one of the top jazz programs, where he studied with many New York jazz greats. He also studied classical piano repertoire. He performs in a variety of genres, including jazz, classical, rock, funk, and blues.
Voice
Adrien Logsdon – voice. If you can speak, you can sing! Focuses on developing long-term habits that support healthy vocal technique, power and resonance without strain, building connection with a song, and using your voice to tell a story. Graduated with a BA (honors) in Musical Theatre from Guildford School of Acting Conservatoire and has taught voice for over 20 years, as well as teaching acting and audition technique at Iowa State University and the Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival. Highlights of her career as a vocalist include singing for Queen Elizabeth II at Royal Albert Hall and opening for 80s new wave artist Gary Numan.
Greta Waldon – (Virtual Only) songwriting, voice. Greta is a singer/songwriter passionate about helping others explore their own voices and musical self-expression. She has a BFA in music from California Institute of the Arts, Somatic Voicework certification from the LoVetri Institute and Vocal Empowerment Coaching certification from The Ariella Approach. Under the name Greta Ruth, she has performed in New York, Los Angeles, and across the midwest, and has been featured on the cover of Tidal Rising Folk playlist.
Solveig Mebust – voice. Graduate of Augsburg University, Bachelor of Music Education, and University of Minnesota, Masters (and nearly a PhD) in Historical Musicology. Music teacher in the Twin Cities since 2009, focused on helping students develop healthy vocal technique, connected breath, confidence in singing, and strong musicianship skills. A pedagogy and child development nerd. When not teaching music, Solveig owns and runs the Grand Jeté dance apparel and shoe store in Saint Paul. She believes that dance and music performance are deeply linked, and that true musicianship connects to movement as much as to the ear and mind.
Percussion
Eron Woods – graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in jazz performance. He has performed with artists such as Clint Holmes, Carol Lawrence, "The Spinners," "The Drifters," "The Coasters," and Dominck Allen. Eron started his drumming career with a traveling circus.